How Electrical Supply Distributors Can Deliver MORE with Smart Lockers

Peak season is well underway for electrical distributors, bringing the familiar convergence of challenges that define this critical business period. Even as the summer rush for HVAC installations and repairs comes to a close, the upcoming holiday rush drives increased demand for retail lighting, seasonal installations, and other maintenance projects. Unpredictable weather patterns can create emergency repair needs and winterization requirements. Meanwhile, large-scale construction projects accelerate to meet year-end deadlines, generating substantial bulk material orders.

This makes now the perfect time to maximize efficiency, profitability, and customer loyalty by strategically implementing and leveraging smart lockers. This blog covers how electrical distributors can utilize Parcel Pending by Quadient’s smart locker technology to deliver a seamless and convenient experience for branch staff, contractors, and customers.

How Parcel Pending Helps Deliver MORE for Your Contractors and Customers

Smart lockers by Parcel Pending provide electrical distributors with multiple competitive advantages, including:

MORE Security

High-value materials like copper piping present significant theft risks that distributors can no longer ignore. Traditional contractor pickup methods may leave expensive inventory exposed and vulnerable to theft. Parcel Pending’s oversized lockers address this challenge by securely storing items up to 11 feet long, from pipe runs and air handlers to water heaters and smaller coil rolls. These weather-resistant systems operate both indoors and outdoors, providing 24/7 secure access that enhances customer satisfaction while protecting valuable inventory.

MORE Access

Contractors can retrieve materials on their schedules, including outside standard business hours, without requiring delivery trucks or staff overtime. One leading distributor reports that nearly 25% of locker pickups occur after hours, demonstrating significant demand for flexible access solutions.

MORE Convenience

Smart lockers eliminate the coordination headaches that plague urgent material requests. Rather than juggling delivery schedules or risking material exposure, contractors gain immediate access to needed supplies through automated, round-the-clock systems. The results speak for themselves: one leading distributor client has processed nearly 48,000 locker pickups year-to-date, representing an 18.6% increase over 2024 levels.

MORE Efficiency

Smart lockers reduce counter congestion during high-demand periods, freeing staff to focus on phone orders and providing personalized support to in-branch contractors and customers. This reallocation of human resources maximizes productivity when it matters most.

MORE Automation

Parcel Pending’s open API integrates with any ERP system, including established integrations with Epicor Eclipse and Advantive’s DDI System. The moment a customer retrieves an item from the locker and closes the door, the integration automatically closes the transaction, processes billing, and updates inventory records, eliminating manual processing steps and reducing administrative overhead.

Innovation is the Future

The electrical distribution market is facing continued volatility due to potential tariffs, supply chain disruptions, ongoing digital transformation, and manufacturers bypassing traditional channels through direct-to-consumer strategies. A recent McKinsey study reveals that trade policy changes rank nearly as high as geopolitical tensions in their potential to disrupt the global economy.¹

Despite these headwinds, electrical distributors posted nearly 3% sales growth in the first quarter of 2025, demonstrating market resilience.² With supply chain uncertainty adding layers of logistical hurdles to an already challenging supply chain environment, it’s no surprise that leading distributors are implementing new playbooks on how to proceed in their business. From making strategic technology investments and embracing AI technologies to enhancing omnichannel product availability and expanding value-added service offerings, distributors are innovating to differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive landscape.

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Investing in smart lockers is a game-changer. These solutions strengthen customer relationships, boost operational efficiency, and improve competitive positioning. As industry challenges continue to mount, savvy distributors who embrace smart lockers are poised for long-term success.

Ready to deliver MORE for your contractors and customers? Speak to a Parcel Pending by Quadient representative today!

Sources:

1. Panikkar, R., Prince, S., Leonard, B., et al. Navigating an ever-evolving trade environment. www.mckinsey.com. March 19, 2025. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/industrials-and-electronics/our-insights/distribution-blog/navigating-an-ever-evolving-trade-environment
2. Lipinski, Nick. Distributors Still Optimistic About 2025 Growth. www.ewwweb.com. April 17, 2025. https://www.ewweb.com/business-management/management/whitepaper/55284013/distributors-still-optimistic-about-2025-growth